Golf tee container

ABSTRACT

A tubular container for carrying a supply of golf tees with the tees being confined in a stacked manner. Resilient retainer means restrict tee removal from the container to one at a time as extracted by the golfer. Clip means enable convenient attachment of the tubular tee container to a golf bag, golf car or other golf equipment.

United States Patent Hand, II et al. July 1, 1975 [54] GOLF TEECONTAINER 2,857,794 l0/l958 Red 221/307 2 .849 [76] Inventors: Claude E.Hand, ll, PO. Box 1106, 307 532 3 65;

La Grande; Claude E. Hand, ll], 1402 3rd St., Eugene, both of Greg.97350 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner- H. GrantSkaggs, Jr. Flled? Sepl- 1973 Attorney, Agent, or FirmBurns, Doane,Swecker and [2i] Appl. No.: 401,254 Mathis Related US. Application Data[63] Continuation of Ser, No. 183,974, Sept. 27, I971, {57] ABSTRACTabandoned,

A tubular container for carrying a supply of golf tees [52] [1.8. CI221/281; 22l/307 with the tees being confined in a stacked manner. Re-[Sl] Int. Cl. 865g 59/00 silient retainer means restrict tee removalfrom the [58] Field of Search 221/307, 308, 309, 310, container to oneat a time as extracted by the golfer.

22 l/64, 28l, 197; 206/315; 273/33; 24/l l CT Clip means enableconvenient attachment of the tubular tee container to a golf bag, golfcar or other golf [56] References Cited equipment.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2 Cl 6 D i F 2,073,328 3/1937 Wasserlein 221/310CLAUDE E. HAND ll CLAUDE E. HAND lll XNVENTORS GOLF TEE CONTAINER Thisis a continuation of application Scr. No. 183.974. filed Sept. 27. 197].and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally togolfing accessories and more particularly to a tubular holder for asupply of golf tees.

It is common practice to carry a quantity of golf tees in a concealedmanner within a pocket or pockets of a golf bag. Tees so carried areusually mixed with various other items of golfing paraphernalia suchcontributing to the difficulty in promptly locating a tee. A furtherdisadvantage to carrying golf tees loosely within a pocket of a golf bagis that the quantity of tees on hand prior to the start of a roundofgolf is usually not known. Accordingly. replenishing of a supply ofgolftees is usually done on a hit or miss basis with the golfersometimes running short of tees before completing his round of golf.Existing tee holders. such as apertured placards. do not provide forcarrying an adequate quantity of tees and hence must be regularlyre-loaded during a single golf match.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The instant invention is embodiedwithin a tee holder of elongate configuration for convenient attachmentof same to a golf bag. golf cart or golf car. The holder is preferablyof a transparent material allowing the supply of tees to be determinedat a glance. The tees are held in a stacked manner with the lowermosttee having its shank portion exposed for convenient extraction by thegolfer.

Clip means are incorporated in one form of the invention to permitsecure attachment of the tee holder to the edge of a golf bag or similarsurface of other golfing equipment. Alternatively. another form of theinvention provides attachment means adapted for engagement with astructural member of a golf car.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of aholder for golf tees. attractive in appearance. and providing convenientstorage for a substantial quantity of tees.

A second important object is the provision of retainer means adjacentthe upper end of the tee holder permitting insertion of the tees. one ata time. into the holder while preventing discharge from the holder in anopposite direction. Like retainer means restricts discharge of the teesone by one from the holder with a following tee being automaticallypositioned into place for later grasping by the golfer.

A further important object is the provision of retainer means in theform of a ring shaped closure apertured to receive and pass tapered golftees in one direction while restricting accidental discharge thereof inan opposite direction.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of a teeholder manufactured from low cost tubular stock and utilizing likeretainer means at its opposite ends all contributing to a golf accessoryof low manufacturing costs yet one of highly attractive appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the accompanying drawing: FIG. I isa perspective view of a golf bag with the present golf tee container inplace thereon.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the tee container sectioned forconvenience of illustration,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3showing internal details of the tee container.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the present teecontainer in place on a golf car structure. and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of tee retainer means at the upperend of the tubular member with a golf tee partially inserted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With continuing reference tothe accompanying drawing wherein applied reference numerals indicateparts similarly identified in the following specification the teecontainer is indicated generally at I0. and is shown in FIG. I inplacement upon the upper end of golf bag II. Other convenient locationsfor attachment of the tee container will be readily apparent to users ofthe device.

With regard to the structure of container 10, an elongate hollow memberis indicated at 12 defining a tee storage area 13 within which aquantity of golf tees is stacked. The tees. so stacked. will rest withtheir pointed lower ends on the head of a subjacent tee. For purposes ofeconomical manufacture elongate tubular member I2 may be of extrudedlucite or an equivalent plastic. clear or tinted. but preferablyretaining a transparent quality.

The member 12 is preferably fitted adjacent its upper terminus with aclip structure I4 to the upper end of which is secured a tee retainer atIS. The clip structure I4 serves to provide means for secure attachmentof the container to any suitable supporting surface.

The clip structure 14 is of open construction. as best seen in FIG. 4,having an inner wall 16 of a diameter corresponding to the outside walldiameter of the inserted end of tubular member 12. A suitable bondingagent may be applied to the cooperating \vall surfaces 16 and those ofsaid tubular member to effect a permanent engagement therebetween. Innerwall 16 of the clip structure terminates upwardly in a shoulder I7 fromwhence a second inner wall at 18 extends as part of a collar 19. Thelatter wall 18 is of a slightly reduced inner diameter for purposes ofregistration with the inner diameter of tubular member 12 to prevent thetee point inserted therepast from catching the peripheral edge of memberI2. The collar I9 of the clip structure is perferably of an outsidedaimeter approximately equal to that of tubular member 12 to permitidentical tee retainers I5 to be used at the top and bottom ends of thetee container. A suitable bonding agent or glue may be applied to thecooperating wall surfaces of the retainer I5 and collar I9 for permanentengagement of same.

Integral with the above described clip structure 14 is a depending armor clip 21 of a semi-rigid nature for biased engagement with a golf bagrim or the like. The arm includes a rib portion 21A to provide a desireddegree of rigidity to the arm. The clip structure 14 lends itself to lowcost production as by injection molding of high impact styrene plasticor its equivalent.

The tee retainers at 15 are formed of a suitable elastomer. such as avinyl. and are of ring-like configuration having an internal wallsurface at lSA for fitted engagement about collar 19 and oppositely forfitted engagement with the lower end of tubular member 12. Thetransverse end wall 20 of the tee retainers defines a tee receivingopening 23 through which tees pass in a shank first direction the shankbeing indicated at 22. The opening 23 is defined by an annular edgewhich flexes during tee passage. In one embodiment of the tee retainer,when in its normal relaxed state. the opening is of four hundredthousandths of an inch diameter to permit reception of the head portion24 of a golf tee requiring but slight radial enlargement of the opening.The tapered configuration of the golf tee shank 22 acts upon the innerperiphery of the retainer opening 23 to gradually enlarge same duringfinger urged passage therethrough. Once inserted into tubular member 12the golf tee will be confined for gravitational passage through thecontainer as the tees are pulled one at a time shank first from thecontainers lower end. As a tee is withdrawn from the lower end oftubular member 12 the shank of the next tee will drop through opening 23of the bottom retainer 15. Inadvertent tee loss is prevented by theopening 23 being of a diameter to engage the enlarged shank portion ofthe tee subjacent the head 24 of the tee.

The retainer may be of a durable vinyl plastic suitably resilient topermit radial enlargement of opening 23 incident to a downward pullbeing exerted on the tee shank. Upon passage of the head portion of thetee the opening contracts to its normal state to engage and support theenlarged shank portion of the following tee.

One satisfactory embodiment of the tee retainer l incorporates a doublebeveled periphery as best shown in FIG. 4. This double bevel arrangementincludes, with respect to the axis of the member 12, inner and outerbeveled surfaces 23a and 231) (FIG. 6). The outer beveled surface of theupper retainer is resiliently compressed when tees are inserted, and theinner beveled surface of the lower retainer is resiliently compressedwhen tees are removed. The relieving of the opening periphery assuresthat the tee point, in instances when the tee is canted within tubularmember 12, will still enter opening 23 as opposed to coming to restagainst the end wall of the retainer. Additionally the beveled edgereduces the retainer mass displaced during passage of the head 24 of thetee therepast.

A modified form of the invention is shown in FIG. 5 wherein a teecontainer, indicated generally at 25, comprises an elongate tubularmember 12' to the top and bottom ends of which are secured tee retainersat 15'. The clip structure, as earlier described, is dispensed with infavor of a bracket having cooperating, curved clamping members 26. Theclamping members 26 may be shaped as at 26A to securely engage astructural member of a golf cart or golf car at 27. Obviously theclamping members 26 may take various sizes and shapes, as may a fastenerat 28, to achieve firm engagement with a supporting structure.

While I have shown but two embodiments of the invention it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodiedstill otherwise without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

Having thus described the invention what is desired to be secured undera Letters Patent is;

l. A golf tee container for receiving a plurality of tapered golf teesand orienting same for manual removal in a one-at'a-time fashion, saidcontainer comprising: an open-ended tubular member of transparentplastic material having a length and diameter suitable for looselyreceiving a plurality of stacked golf tees, said tubular member beingadapted for upright attachment to a supporting surface, and

a pair of identical tee retainers located at the upper and lower ends ofthe tubular member, each re tainer being of one-piece molded plasticmaterial and including:

first annular internal wall means adhesively secured adjacent arespective end of said tubular member, and

an end wall disposed perpendicular to said first internal wall means andhaving second annular internal wall means arranged co-axially with saidtubular member, said second internal wall means comprising inner andouter beveled surfaces which converge to produce an annular edgedefining a resilient tee-receiving opening, said opening being smallerthan the largest crosssection of a tee utilized in conjunction with saidtubular member;

the lower tee retainer being disposed such that the inner beveledsurface thereof retains and supports the lowermost tee of a stack oftees in said tubular member such that a shank portion of the lowermosttee projects outwardly beyond said tee-receiving opening in an operableorientation of said tee container,

the outer beveled surface of said upper retainer being resilientlycompressible under the influence of a tee being manually pushedshank-first through the tee-receiving opening thereof to permit the teeto be inserted into said tubular member;

the inner beveled surface of said lower retainer being resilientlycompressible under the influence of a tee being manually pulledshank-first through the tee-receiving opening thereof to permit the teeto be removed from said tubular member.

2. A golf tee container for receiving a plurality of tapered golf teesand orienting same for manual removal in a one-at-a-time fashion, saidcontainer comprising:

an opening-ended tubular member of transparent plastic material having alength and diameter suitable for loosely receiving a plurality ofstacked golf tees, said tubular member being adapted for uprightattachment to a supporting surface, and

a pair of identical tee retainers located at the upper and lower ends ofthe tubular member, each retainer being of one-piece molded plasticmaterial and including:

first annular internal wall means adhesively secured adjacent arespective end of said tubular member, and

an end wall disposed perpendicular to said first internal wall means andhaving a second annular internal wall means arranged co-axially withsaid tubular member, said second internal wall means comprising innerand outer beveled surfaces which converge to produce an annular edgedefining a resilient tee-receiving opening, said opening being smallerthan the largest crosssection of a tee utilized in conjunction with saidtubular member;

a clip member including a cylindrical body portion having:

an internal annular surface at one end which is in surroundingrelationship with, and adhesively secured to, an outer wall surface ofsaid tubular member, a shoulder portion at the top of said internalannular surface overlying the top of said tubular member; an externalannular surface at the other end thereof which is the same size as theouter wall surface of said tubular member, the second internal wallmeans of the upper retainer being disposed in surrounding relationshipto, and adhesively secured to, said external annular surface of saidcylindrical body portion, and

a resilient arm projecting from said body portion and extending alongthe tubular member for attachment to a supporting surface to hold saidtubular member in an upright position;

the lower tee retainer being disposed such that the inner beveledsurface thereof retains and supports the lowermost tee of a stack oftees in said tubular member such that a shank portion of the lowermosttee projects outwardly beyond said tee-receiving opening in an operableorientation of said tee container;

the outer beveled surface of said upper retainer being resilientlycompressible under the influence of a tee being manually pushedshank-first through the tee-receiving opening thereof to permit the teeto be inserted into said tubular member',

the inner beveled surface of said lower retainer being resilientlycompressible under the influence of a tee being manually pulledshank-first through the tee-receiving opening thereof to permit the teeto be removed from said tubular member.

1. A golf tee container for receiving a plurality of tapered golf teesand orienting same for manual removal in a one-at-atime fashion, saidcontainer comprising: an open-ended tubular member of transparentplastic material having a length and diameter suitable for looselyreceiving a plurality of stacked golf tees, said tubular member beingadapted for upright attachment to a supporting surface, and a pair ofidentical tee retainers located at the upper and lower ends of thetubular member, each retainer being of one-piece molded plastic materialand including: first annular internal wall means adhesively securedadjacent a respective end of said tubular member, and an end walldisposed perpendicular to said first internal wall means and havingsecond annular internal wall means arranged co-axially with said tubularmember, said second internal wall means comprising inner and outerbeveled surfaces which converge to produce an annular edge defining aresilient teereceiving opening, said opening being smaller than thelargest cross-section of a tee utilized in conjunction with said tubularmember; the lower tee retainer being disposed such that the innerbeveled surface thereOf retains and supports the lowermost tee of astack of tees in said tubular member such that a shank portion of thelowermost tee projects outwardly beyond said tee-receiving opening in anoperable orientation of said tee container; the outer beveled surface ofsaid upper retainer being resiliently compressible under the influenceof a tee being manually pushed shank-first through the tee-receivingopening thereof to permit the tee to be inserted into said tubularmember; the inner beveled surface of said lower retainer beingresiliently compressible under the influence of a tee being manuallypulled shank-first through the tee-receiving opening thereof to permitthe tee to be removed from said tubular member.
 2. A golf tee containerfor receiving a plurality of tapered golf tees and orienting same formanual removal in a one-at-a-time fashion, said container comprising: anopening-ended tubular member of transparent plastic material having alength and diameter suitable for loosely receiving a plurality ofstacked golf tees, said tubular member being adapted for uprightattachment to a supporting surface, and a pair of identical teeretainers located at the upper and lower ends of the tubular member,each retainer being of one-piece molded plastic material and including:first annular internal wall means adhesively secured adjacent arespective end of said tubular member, and an end wall disposedperpendicular to said first internal wall means and having a secondannular internal wall means arranged co-axially with said tubularmember, said second internal wall means comprising inner and outerbeveled surfaces which converge to produce an annular edge defining aresilient tee-receiving opening, said opening being smaller than thelargest cross-section of a tee utilized in conjunction with said tubularmember; a clip member including a cylindrical body portion having: aninternal annular surface at one end which is in surrounding relationshipwith, and adhesively secured to, an outer wall surface of said tubularmember, a shoulder portion at the top of said internal annular surfaceoverlying the top of said tubular member; an external annular surface atthe other end thereof which is the same size as the outer wall surfaceof said tubular member, the second internal wall means of the upperretainer being disposed in surrounding relationship to, and adhesivelysecured to, said external annular surface of said cylindrical bodyportion, and a resilient arm projecting from said body portion andextending along the tubular member for attachment to a supportingsurface to hold said tubular member in an upright position; the lowertee retainer being disposed such that the inner beveled surface thereofretains and supports the lowermost tee of a stack of tees in saidtubular member such that a shank portion of the lowermost tee projectsoutwardly beyond said tee-receiving opening in an operable orientationof said tee container; the outer beveled surface of said upper retainerbeing resiliently compressible under the influence of a tee beingmanually pushed shank-first through the tee-receiving opening thereof topermit the tee to be inserted into said tubular member; the innerbeveled surface of said lower retainer being resiliently compressibleunder the influence of a tee being manually pulled shank-first throughthe tee-receiving opening thereof to permit the tee to be removed fromsaid tubular member.